Brisbane, Feb 18 (IANS) Australia coach Mickey Arthur said Saturday that fatigued Ricky Ponting cannot be rested with Michael Clarke injured.
The 37-year-old Ponting has played all six of Australia's Tests this summer as well as four One-Day Internationals.
Ponting, a former captain, led the team in Friday's ODI against Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground and will also be in charge against India at the Gabba on Sunday.
Arthur said in an ideal situation, Ponting would have been taking a break rather than preparing to lead Australia.
"If I have to be totally honest, Ricky is a little bit jaded, like a couple of our Test players that have played all summer," Arthur told reporters here.
"But that is the treadmill of international cricket and they have to find a way to make their performances count and have an impact on the team."
Ponting also admitted after Friday night's loss that he was not satisfied with his own form in the ODIs bust said he had no plans to end his 374 One-Day International career any time soon.
"This week is nothing different for me, just got a little bit of added responsibility that I've had 170 times before. It's nothing new to me but being able to make the team bounce back strongly for Sunday is something that we've all got to take on board. I'm going to have a leading role in that and I'm going to make sure I do everything I can to get the boys up on Sunday," he said.
Arthur said just experience and wealth of knowledge won't guarantee Ponting a place in the ODI squad unless his performances start to improve.
"Every cricketer's currency is performance, that's what gets you into the Australian team. A character like Ricky Ponting is someone you want around the team all the time because he's so inspirational, he's still our fittest player and hardest trainer and he trains with the most intensity, he's a fantastic example to every guy who comes into this team."
"Ricky is a class act, there is no way you can write off a champion like him. He faced those same issues around the first couple of Test matches and he came through the Test series, had a great series against India and I hope he turns it around tomorrow," said Arthur.
The 37-year-old Ponting has played all six of Australia's Tests this summer as well as four One-Day Internationals.
Ponting, a former captain, led the team in Friday's ODI against Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground and will also be in charge against India at the Gabba on Sunday.
Arthur said in an ideal situation, Ponting would have been taking a break rather than preparing to lead Australia.
"If I have to be totally honest, Ricky is a little bit jaded, like a couple of our Test players that have played all summer," Arthur told reporters here.
"But that is the treadmill of international cricket and they have to find a way to make their performances count and have an impact on the team."
Ponting also admitted after Friday night's loss that he was not satisfied with his own form in the ODIs bust said he had no plans to end his 374 One-Day International career any time soon.
"This week is nothing different for me, just got a little bit of added responsibility that I've had 170 times before. It's nothing new to me but being able to make the team bounce back strongly for Sunday is something that we've all got to take on board. I'm going to have a leading role in that and I'm going to make sure I do everything I can to get the boys up on Sunday," he said.
Arthur said just experience and wealth of knowledge won't guarantee Ponting a place in the ODI squad unless his performances start to improve.
"Every cricketer's currency is performance, that's what gets you into the Australian team. A character like Ricky Ponting is someone you want around the team all the time because he's so inspirational, he's still our fittest player and hardest trainer and he trains with the most intensity, he's a fantastic example to every guy who comes into this team."
"Ricky is a class act, there is no way you can write off a champion like him. He faced those same issues around the first couple of Test matches and he came through the Test series, had a great series against India and I hope he turns it around tomorrow," said Arthur.
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